Piston ring assembly element and method of making



y Juy 0, 1946. H. P. PHILLIPS PISTON RING ASSEMBLY ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKINGv l Filed Feb. 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l l' ZZ Juy 30, i946. H. P.- PHILLIPS; n 2,404,362

PISTON RING ASSEMBLY ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKNG Filed Feb. 2, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 @www Patented July 30,1946

PISTON RING ASSEMBLY ELEMNT AND Y`METHD 0F MAKING Harold E. Phillips, Hastings, Mich., assgnor to Hastings .Manufacturing Company, Hasting Mich., a corporation of Michigan i Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,754y

This invention krelates to improvements in -piston ring assembly element `and method of making.

The main objects of this 'invention are:

First, to provide a piston ring or piston ring assembly formed entirely of ductile metal which can be readily and economically fabricated and is not likely to be broken or distorted in use.

Second, to provide Va piston `ring or piston ring assembly -having these advantages with the advantage of -very free Vdrainage thereby well adapting it for use as "an Aoil ring.

Third, to provide a piston ring element formed entirely of ductile metal having side drain openings, the stock or metal `being continuous from end to end ofthe vring thereby providing uniform characteristics of strengthand resilience and eX- pansibility throughout the length `of the ring.

Fourth, Vto provide a piston ring Velement formed `of vductile metal which may be used as a spacer element in combination with iat elements formed of ribbon steel.

Fifth, to providea method of manufacturing piston ring elements whereby lelements -of uniform characteristics maybe economically pro-k duced.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is `defined `and pointed out in the claims.

A "preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated Ain the accompanying drawings, `in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section of a piston ring embodying my invention, on line l l Vof Fig. 3, installed in the `drainage ring groove of a piston andin operative relation to a cylinder, the piston and cylinder parts being shown Iconventionally and Without particular regard to dimensions or clearances.

4Fig.2 is an inner side elevation of one of the piston ring' elements inyits expanded position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary edge or peripheral View ofthe ring assembly of Fig. l.

Fig. `l is a fragmentary perspective View of a piston ring element sectioned through an axially upset reach thereof. i v

Fig. `5 is a perspective View of one of the piston ring elements sectioned through a `spacer reach thereof. i

Fig. i6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on a line corresponding to line 5 5 of Figs. 8 and 9, illustrating a piston ring assembly comprising a pair of flat side members with one of the Apiston ring Jelements of `this invention .as A.an intermediate member.

.12 Claims. (Cl. 309-44) Fig. 7 is afragmentary viewin section .on a line corresponding to line l-l of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is an edge or peripheral AView of the ring assembly of Figs.`6, 7 and 9.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 9 9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. lois a perspective View of a strip or ribbon of steel or metal such as is used Vin the forming of the piston ring element.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the second step or coiling step, the first step in the manufacture being namely that of folding the ribbon stock longitudinally upon itself as a straight strip, not being illustrated but it will be understood from Figs. 1l and l2.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view `of the multi-folded lcoil radially sectioned on line i12-*I2 of Fig. 13. A

Fig. 13 is a side elevation Viewed from the top of Fig. 12. Y

Fig. 14 is a Vfragmentary view partially in section of Va punch or die apparatus used in the upsetting of spaced reaches of the element shown in Fig. 13 and illustrating a further step in the manufacture, the removable die member being shown in retracted position 'after the upsetting step.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary'view'in section on vline Iiil5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a side view of the ring `element as removed rfrom the forming die and prior to permitting it to spring open to the normal expanded position shown in Fig. 2.

In considering the accompanying drawings, it should be borne in mind that no attempt has been made to .show the parts in ,their relative proportion or where associated with a piston and cylinder to show the clearances and` relative dimensions.

The stock illustrated at l is relatively thin but it Ymay vary considerably in thickness, den pending somewhat on the size of the ring and the character of .the material used and any range from .007 to .0039, for example, but desirably from .01() to .020. If the element `is designed or However, it may desirably Vbe made of wearresisting materials even-when used as a spacer,

one side member of the element being used `as a cylinder wall engaging or contacting member.

.In Ythe drawings, `2 i represents :a cylinder and ;3 apiston fhavng 'a piston ring groove A therein 3 provided with drain passages 5. I will first describe one of the piston ring elements and the method of making as the description of the method will aid in an understanding of the description of the ring element.

The ring element designated generally by the numeral 6 is formed of a strip or ribbon of ductile metal which is folded longitudinally upon itself to form it into a general W-shape as shown for example in Fig. 12, thusvproviding side members 'l and 8 connected by a fold 9, the bights of the fold I0, IO and II being open. These longitudinal folds can be effected in suitable fo-lding rollers Which are not illustrated as they form no part of this invention.v The side member V'I is preferably substantially Wider than the side member 8 and constitutes a cylinder Wall engaging A member as shown in Fig. 1.

After the strip I0 is folded longitudinally upon itself, it is coiled edgewise, the coils being shown in Fig. 11. These coils I 2 are cut intoannular sections I3, the ends of the section forming the ring spiral I4. In Fig. 13, the split of the annular element is substantially closed.

It will be noted that the side member 'I is at. The section I3 is laid upon an anvil member` I5 having an annular recess IS therein of such Width as to receive the side member I and preferably support the ring in its collapsed position as shown in Fig, 13. Spaced reaches I'l of the members 8 and 9 are then upset axially by means of the die member I9 having an annular section of the radially arranged upsetting elements 2G which compress the members 8 and 3 into side by side contacting relation With the member 1. The reaches 2I between the upset reaches I'I constitute spacing members. When the elements are removed from the die, they normally spring to the open position shown in Fig. 2 and Whenthey are inserted into a cylinder they are collapsed and they normally exert a substantial radial thrust or unit pressure as it is commonly designated against the cylinder Wall. These elements are preferably formed of Wear-resisting metal such as steelof proper carbon content although other Wear-resisting metals and materials may be used. Steel is found highly satisfactory particularly Where the element is designed as a cylinder Wall engaging element as is shown in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig, 1. In that embodiment, a pair of elements are arranged in opposed relation as shown in Fig. 3, the spaced members 2I being Within the compressed reaches I'I Which provide side drain'recesses for the elements. In this arrangement, the reaches Il are preferably substantially longer than the reaches 2| so that suitable drainage is provided.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 6, one of the elements is arranged intermediate the flat cylinder Wall engaging members 22 and constitutes a supporting and spacer member therefor and also provides suitable drain openings or passages. In this embodiment, the expander 23 acts only on the side members 22. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, tne expander 23 acts upon both of the elements.

It Will be noted that no part of the ring element is cut away. The result is that the element has very uniform strength and tension from end toend. It is not subject to breakage or likely to be permanently distorted in manipulations to install the same. It may be made of quite thin stock consequently presenting a thin or relatively sharp edge t0 the cylinder Wall and at the same Vtime the cylindervvall engaging member is Sup- 4 ported close to the edge thereof and is reinforced so that it does not distort or vibrate in use. I have'illustrated and described very practical embodiments of my invention. I have not atments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure Will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:l

1. A piston ring assembly comprising a pair of thin split nat annular expansible cylinder Wall engagingside elements formed of ductile wearresisting material, and an annular split expansible intermediate element formed of ductile Wearresisting material folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of radially disposed outer and intermediate plies, the several plies being continuous from end to endof. the element, one of the plies being flat and of greater axial Width than the other plies and constituting a cylinder f v/all engaging member, the other plies being axially lconformed to provide alternate drain reaches and spacer reaches. v 2. A piston ring assembly comprising a pairof thin split nat annular expansible cylinder-Wall engaging side elements formed of ductile Wearresisting material, andan annular split expansible intermediate element formed of ductile wearresisting material folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of radially disposed outer and intermediate plies, the several plies being continuous from end to end of the element, one of 35v the plies being flat, the other plies being axially conformed to provide alternate side drain reaches and spacer reaches.

3. A piston ring element comprising a pair of annular split resilient piston ring elements, each 4G formed of Wear-resisting ductile metal folded upon itself intoa plurality of plies disposed in side by side relation, one of the plies being flat and of greater radial Width than the other plies andconstituting a cylinder Wall engaging element, the remaining plies being conformed to provide alternating spacer and side drain reaches, -the drain reaches substantially exceedlng in length the length of the spacer reaches, the elements being arranged with the spacer reaches of 59;; one element Within the drain reaches of the other. 4. A piston ring assembly comprising a pair'of annular split resilient piston ring elements, each formed of Wear-resisting ductile metal folded upon itself into a plurality of plies disposed in 5D-side by side relation, one of the plies being fiat and of greater radial Width than the other plies and constituting a cylinder wall engaging ele- 'ment, the remaining plies being conformed to provide alternating spacer and side drain reaches, au4 the elements being arranged with the spacer reaches of one element Within the drain reaches of the other.

5. A split expansible inherently resilient piston ring element formed of a ribbon of ductile Wearcs resisting metal folded longitudinally upon itself to provide a at cylinder Wall engaging side mem.. ber, a'second side member of less radial Width and an intermediate folded web portion of a Width substantially that of the second member but' providing side drain openings, the spaced `por-'- 75 tions and the upset portions being continuous. -f f tempted to illustrate or describe other embodi- 6. A split expansible piston ring element formed of thin ductile Wear-resisting material and comprising an annular flat cylinder wall engaging side member, and a second side member of less radial Width, the inner edges of said side member being integrally connected by a folded intermediate member, said second side member and said intermediate member having spaced reaches thereof axially spaced relative to each other and reaches intermediate such spaced reaches in which the members are axially collapsed to provide side drainage recesses.

'7. A split annular resilient piston ring element formed of ribbon steel folded longitudinally into a plurality of plies, one of the plies being at and constituting a cylindrical Wall engaging member, spaced reaches of the other plies being upset axially into side by side contacting relation with each other and with the cylinder Wall engaging member, the reaches intermediate said upset reaches being of an axial Width substantially exceeding the upset reaches and providing therewith alternate spacer reaches and drain reaches.

3. A split expansible piston ring element consisting of a ribbon of ductile metal folded longitudinally upon itself and coiled edgewise providing a cylinder wall engaging member constituted by one edge of the ribbon, and a multiple fold side portion at one side thereof, said multiple fold side portion being axially upset at spaced intervals to provide side drain recesses, the plies of the multi-fold side portion between said upset portions being axially spaced.

9. A split expansible resilient piston ring element formed of a ribbon of ductile Wear-resisting metal folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of plies disposed side by side and coiled edgewise after folding, one of the plies being flat throughout and constituting a cylinder wall engaging member, the other plies being upset axially at spaced intervals against the inner side of the cylinder wall engaging ply providing spaced side drain openings.

10. A split expansible piston ring element formed of a ribbon of ductile wear-resisting metal folded longitudinally upon itself and coiled edgewise to provide a flat cylinder wall engaging side member and a second side member connected integrally thereto by an intermediate return fold, spaced reaches of said second side member and of said intermediate return fold being upset axially providing alternating spacer reaches and drain reaches.

11. A split expansible piston ring element formed of a strip of ductile metal..folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of plies disposed side by side and coiled edgewise, the plies being continuous from end to end of the element, one of the plies being flat and constituting a cylinder Wall engaging member, the other plies having spaced reaches axially upset providing alternating side drain recesses and spacer reaches.

12. A split expansible piston ring element formed of a strip of ductile metal folded longitudinally upon itself into a plurality of plies disposed side by side and coiled edgewise, the plies being continuous from end to end of the element, one of the plies being'flat, theother plies having spaced reaches axially upset providing alternating side drain recesses and spacer reaches.

HAROLD P PHILLIPS. 

